George Fariss

George Fariss, age 79, of Mount Ida, died Wednesday, January 16, 2013. He was born on December 17, 1933, at Big Flat, the son of James Monroe Fariss and Pearl Ruth Hites Fariss. On October 31, 1951, he was married to Imo Jean Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Bessie Jackson and Rosie Fariss; and two brothers, Joe Fariss and Wessie Fariss. In his early years he was a logger, cutting trees for stave bolts that were used to make whiskey barrels, until he was injured in a serious logging accident in 1968. After his accident, he went through training for repairing typewriters, and for many years he worked as office equipment repairmen for the State of California, until he retired in 1995. His friends in California, who knew he was such a country boy, jokingly gave him the nickname of "Hippie", which everyone knew was just the opposite of who he was. After he retired, he and Imo Jean decided it was time to return to Arkansas, and they moved back to Mount Ida. He was an avid hunter, enjoyed fishing, working in his yard, watching wrestling and old western shows, and he especially loved Saturday nights when he and Imo Jean would watch old country and western music television shows. George was a simple man, who loved to drink his coffee all day and whose favorite meal was fried potatoes, beans and cornbread. He will be remembered as a man of few words, with his favorite word being "Whatever", no matter what you asked him. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be deeply missed by everyone. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Imo Jean Fariss of Mount Ida; one son and daughter-in-law, Timothy and Jody Fariss of Rocklin, California; four daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah and Thomas Nurse of The Villages, Florida, Brenda and Jeff Phillips of Roseville, California, Bonita and John Nurse of Mount Ida and Patricia and Mark Young of Vacaville, California; nine grandchildren, Thomas Nurse, II, Timothy Nurse, Amanda Nurse, Laura Barone, Joel Fariss, Cassandra Sanchez, Caleb Fariss, Michelle Hayes and Stephanie Young; nine great-grandchildren and one on the way; one sister, Jessie Vickers of Elveston, Illinois; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, January 20, 2013, in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood with Bro. Paul Burke officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday, 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Interment will be in the Gaston Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood. Pallbearers will be Timothy Fariss, Mark Young, Timothy Nurse, Thomas Nurse, II, John Nurse and Thomas Nurse. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.